Rack structure for freight vehicles



Nov. 19, 1963 Filed larch 20, 1961 H. J. BOWER ETAL 3,111,234

aacx srRuc'ruRE FOR mnemmucus 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 QQQ. T" Y n u u l l 1 INVENTORS HAEMON J. Bawlz-a and DANIEL F; FREEMAN ATTORNEYS Nov. 19, 1963 H. J. BOWER ETAL 3,111,234

RACK STRUCTURE FOR FREIG'IT mm F1106 m 20. 1961 4 Shoots-Shoot 2 nmsmtmw Nov. 19, 1963 H. J. BOWER ETAI- 3,111,234

mcx s muc'runs FOR mum-r mucus Filed larch 20, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. 19, 1963 H. J- BOWER ETAL RACK s'muc'nms FOR mmca'r mews 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed latch 20. 1961 spond to the length of barre? b on beams B such that the head flanges I: will be received thereon when beams B are placed in the trailer 12. Tracks 14, extend longitudinally of the floor 16 of trailer 12 for substantially the full length thereof such that beams may be positioned throughout substantially the full length of trailer 12 (FIGURE 2). Tracks 14, 15 have outside flanges 20, 21 thereon, respectively, which are on the side of the tracks adjacent sides 22 of trailer 12 and which serve to maintain the head flanges h of beams B therebetween to prevent lateral movement of the beams during transit. It is noted that flanges 20, 21 are spaced a greater distance apart than the distance between the outside faces of head flanges h for reasons to be presently described. It is also noted that the width of each of the track 14, 15 is greater than twice the thickness of head flanges h for reasons also to be presently described Track 14 has a second flange 23 thereon which extends for substantially the full length thereof and is positioned adistanoefromoutside flangeitaaleastequalto-the thicknssofoneoftheheadflangeshofbeamsB. The spacing of flange 23 from flange allows head flanges h of alternate empty beams B to be positioned between flanges 20 and 23. Flange 23 is spaced from the inner side of track 14 a distance at least equal to the thickness ofoneoftheheadflangeshofthebeamsBsuch thatthe head flanges h of the remaining or intervening empty beamsofsaid rowmaybepositioned between flange 23 and the inner side of track. Track 15 is of a width at leastequal totwioe thethicknesofoneofthe head flangeshof-thebeamsBandthewidthofflange 23. Flange 23 is spaced a suflicient distance from outside flange 21 ontrack 15 for receiptofabeamBtherebetween with flanges 21 and 23 engaging the outside faces of the head flanges It to prevent lateral shifting during transit.

It eanthereforebe seenthattheheadflangeshon one sideofemptyalternatebeamsllinsaidrowmaybeposi tionedbetweenflangesfianduandtheheadflangesh onthemmesideoftheremainingemptybeamsllmaybe podtionedbetwemtheflangeBandtheinnei-sideof trackl4snch thatthehcadflangeshofsuooessiveempty beamsBareontoitwitheachotherandare ovu'lapped sn'chthatthebarrelsboftheemptybeamsB willbe closer-togetherallowingalargernumberofempty bcanstobcplaoedonthetracksl4,15thanwould be posibleiftheheadflangeswereint.

Suitablebraccs24,25arebetweentheouter sidesofflanges20,21andthesides22oftrailer l2to brace tracks 14, 15 against lateral movement during.

transit.

Asetofnppertracbu,3lareprovidedinverticai alinementwithlowertracksltlsandaresubstantially idmticalthercwithhavingoutsideflangeslillillthereon whidrmondtoomm'deflangsu,2lontmclrsl4, 15. Tlaekuwhichispositionedovertrackl thasa flange34thcreonwhichcorrespondsandisidenticalwith flange B on track '14. Tracks 30, 31 have additional members35,36theretotostrengthenthetracks forb ttersnpportoftheupperrowofbeams.

I1acks3l,31arefixedtotheinnerendsosuitabie armsflflwhicharemonntedattheirouterendson srritablebrackcts42,43bysnitablepivotpinsorbolts44, 45. Brackets42,43arefixedtotlresides22oftrailerl2 byanysnitablemcanssuchasweldingorthelike,not showmandhaveverticallyextendingslots ififlformed thereimrespectivdzforverticaladjustmcntofthe tracks 30,31relativetothefloorl6oftrailerl2toaccommodatevariomheadflangesizesonbeamsnmmelower rowofbarns.

Tracks 30,3landarms40,4laremovable about pivots 44,45toan0ut-ofthewayp0sition,showninFIGURE- 7,adjaeentthesides220ftrailer12whennotinuse. Tracks 30, 31 andarms, 41 are releasably secured in the out-of-the-way position by mean of brackets $0 mounted on sides 22 and relcasa'oly having suitable openings therein which mate with suitable openings in the flanges 32, 33 of tracks 30, 31. Locking pins 51 are provided for insertion into the mating opening in flanges 32, 33 and brackets for releasably locking the tracks and brackets together. Pins 51 are secured to the sides 22 of trailer 12 by means of chains 52 which are connected to the sides by suitable eyelets 53.

Suitable anchoring or tiedown means are provided for connection between spindles s on beams B and tiedown points mounted on the floor 16 of trailer 12 for securing the beams against longitudinal movement along the tracks 14, 15, so and 31 during transit. The tie-l down means 60 are shown in the form of suitable chains or cables which have suitable tightening means 61 positioned intermediate the ends thereof. Also. suitable scotches 62 are provided at opposite ends of the rows of beams for aiding in holding the same against longitudinal movement along the tracks. It is noted that the forward scotches 62 have suitable tiedown means 60 connected thereto for withstanding the forward movement of the rows of beams during braking of the tractor 11 and trailer 12. Tiedown means 60 may be of any conventional form or may take any desired arrangement since the same does not form any part of the present invention and is shown for illustrative purposes only.

lnoperatiomwhenitisdesiredtotramportfull beams in the vehicle embodying the improved apparatus of thepresent inventiomthefirstrowoffullbeamsare placed on tracks 14, 15 between flange 23 on track 14 and flange 21 on track 15 with the head flanges in horizontal alincrnent. It is noted that track 15 is positioned a suflicient distance from the corresponding side 22 of trailer 12 such that the flange 21 thereon is spaced the same distance from the corresponding side 22 as flange 23 on track 14 such that the center of gravity of the full bearm will be in vertical alinement with the longimdinal center line of the trailer 12. 'lhis spacing oftraeirs 14, ISinsuresthattheweigbtofthefirllbeams is evenly distributed on the wheels 13 of the tractor l1 and trailerlZ. AsthefullbearmBareplaeedontracks l4, 15,thetiedownmeans60isappliedtoselectedbeams to hold the lower row of beams against movement.

When tracks 14 and 15 have received their full com plement of full beams B, track 30, 31 are released from their out-of-the-way position by removal of pins 51 from the mating openings in flanges 32, 33 and brackets 50. When released, tracks 30, 31 are lowered about their pivot points 44, 45 into engagement with the periphery of the head flangu I: of the lower row of beams B.

With the upper tracks 30, 31 in position on the head flangesonthelowerrowofbeamsfullbeamsBare placedontheuppertracksbetweenflangefiontrack 31 andflange340ntrack39withthehendflangesthereofinhorizontal alinementwiththeotherbeamsinthe upper row and in vertical alinement with the head flanges of thebeamsinthelowerrowsuchthattheheadflanges of thebeamsinthelowerrowwillserveassupportsfor the upperrowofbeams. Asthebeamsarepositioned on the up er row, the tiedown means 60 are connected to selected beams in any desired manner such that the same are prevented from moving during transit It is notedthatthefbeamateachrowhastiedown means connected thereto andalsoengagesthe forward scotches 62 to prevent forward rolling movement off the forward end of the tracks 14, 15, 30, 31 with consequentdamagetotheforwardwallofthetrailerfl andtothebeam. Whenthefullcomplemcntoffuil beamshasbeenplaoedonthenppertracks30,3l, the rearmostscotchflisplacedthereonandtiedownmeans wissecuredtheretotopreventrolling movementof tbebeamsotttherearwardendofnacksa,3l. The beams are then transported to their destination in the trailer 12 at which time they are unloaded in reverse order of steps to the loading. 

1. IN A WHEELED VEHICLE HAVING A BODY PROVIDED WITH AN ELONGATE FLOOR AND SIDE WALLS, THE COMBINATION OF MEANS CARRIED BY AND EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF THE BODY FOR RECEIVING SUPERPOSED ROWS OF PARALLEL SPOOL-LIKE BEAMS EACH HAVING SPACED APART HEAD FLANGES CONNECTED BY A BARREL ADAPTED TO HAVE TEXTILE MATERIAL OR THE LIKE WOUND THEREON, SAID MEANS COMPRISING A FIRST PAIR OF SPACED APART, ELONGATE, PARALLEL TRACK MEMBERS MOUNTED ON SAID FLOOR ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE LONGITUDINAL CENTER LINE OF SAID BODY, AND A SECOND PAIR OF SPACED APART, ELONGATE, PARALLEL TRACK MEMBERS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE SIDES OF SAID BODY FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN AN OUT-OF-THEWAY POSITION ADJACENT THE SIDES OF SAID BODY AND AN OPPORATIVE POSITION IN VERTICAL ALINEMENT WITH SAID FIRST TRACK MEMBERS AND IN SPACED RELATION THERETO, THE DISTAL SIDES OF THE TRACK MEMBERS OF EACH OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND PAIRS ADJACENT THE SIDES OF SAID BODY HAVING UPSTANDING SIDE FLANGES, ONE TRACK MEMBER OF EACH OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND PAIRS ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE LONGITUDINAL CENTER LINE OF SAID BODY HAVING AN UPSTANDING FLANGE IN A MEDIAL PORTION THEREOF AND EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF PARALLEL TO SAID SIDE FLANGE THEREON AND SPACED FROM SAID SIDE FLANGE THEREON A SUFFICIENT DISTANCE TO PERMIT THE RECEIPT OF A HEAD FLANGE OF A SPOOL-LIKE BEAM THEREBETWEEN, SAID MEDIAL FLANGES ON SAID ONE TRACK MEMBERS BEING SPACED FROM THE LONGITUDINAL CENTER LINE OF SAID BODY SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME DISTANCE AS THE SIDE FLANGES ON THE OTHER TRACK MEMBERS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND PAIRS, SAID MEDIAL FLANGES ON SAID ONE TRACK MEMBERS AND SAID SIDE FLANGES ON SAID OTHER TRACK MEMBERS OF EACH OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND PAIRS BEING ADAPTED TO SELECTIVELY RECEIVE THEREBETWEEN A ROW OF FULL SPOOL-LIKE BEAMS HAVING TEXTILE MATERIAL OR THE LIKE THEREON WITH THE CENTER OF GRAVITY OF THE FULL BEAMS IN VERTICAL ALINEMENT WITH THE LONGITUDINAL CENTER LINE OF SAID BODY AND ALTERNATE BEAMS OF A ROW OF STAGGERED EMPTY SPOOL-LIKE BEAMS HAVING ALTERNATE AND INTERVENING BEAMS THEREIN WITH THE HEAD FLANGES THEREOF OVERLAPPED, SAID MEDIAL FLANGES AND SAID SIDE FLANGES ON SAID ONE TRACK MEMBERS OF EACH OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND PAIRS BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THEREBETWEEN ONE OF THE HEAD FLANGES OF THE INTERVENING BEAMS IN THE ROW OF STAGGERED EMPTY BEAMS. 